Iris Wilcox isnít the only reason Nick Eason will be wearing pink cleats and pink wristbands and pink gloves throughout the month of October. That will happen throughout the NFL, as players will be speckled in pink to honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month and add to the $3 million the league has raised for the American Cancer Society. But when Eason tugs on those cleats and wristbands and gloves before each October game, Iris Wilcox, who was Easonís mother, will be the reason heíll say a prayer and give thanks for the time he had with her.

He used to save his game-worn gloves and cleats as mementos for his mom. Now they are a memory of the woman who supported him every step of the way, who was tough and loving at the same time and who died of breast cancer this summer at age 50 as Easonís Cardinals began preseason action. This is a story about Iris Wilcox and the NFLís pink-tinged October representing a rare and beautiful thing: When professional athletes do good with no eye toward public perception. When they do good because it is the right thing. When they recognize the fight against cancer because they know the disease touches us all.

ďIíd wear pink even if my mom didnít have breast cancer,Ē Eason told FOXSports.com. ďAny time anyone dies from a terminal illness, itís a battle for them, a battle for that person and their caretaker.Ē

October, of course, is breast cancer awareness month. And for the last few years, the National Football League has gotten involved in a big way, allowing players to wear pink football accessories on the field for all games played during the month. Millions have been affected by breast cancer, including Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who lost his mother Carol to the disease in 2003.

According to Fitzgerald's Twitter account, Nike has designed something special for the All-Pro receiver to wear this October in honor of his mom. The company produced pink Hyperfuse football cleats with the name 'Carol' emblazoned on them. During October, Fitzgerald will donate a quarter for every new follower he gets on Facebook and Twitter in addition to $5,000 for every touchdown and $1,000 for every reception.